Saint Anthony Hall (Hartford, Connecticut) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saint Anthony Hall
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The chapter house shortly after the addition of the 2nd tower, 2005.
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 340 Summit St., Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1878 |
| Architect | Cady, Josiah Cleveland |
| Architectural style | Gothic, High Victorian Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001017 |
| Added to NRHP | May 9, 1985 |
The Saint Anthony Hall building at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, is a very old and important house. It belongs to a group called the Fraternity of Delta Psi. This building was constructed between 1877 and 1878.
It was designed by a famous American architect named J. Cleaveland Cady. He also designed parts of the Museum of Natural History in New York City. The building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in November 1985. This means it's a special place in history!
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What Does Saint Anthony Hall Look Like?
Saint Anthony Hall is located on Gallows Hill, which is the highest point in Hartford. It's right near the Trinity College campus. The building has two stories and is built in a style called Gothic Revival.
Its outside walls are made of strong granite stones from New Hampshire. The building looks like a rectangle with a rounded end. It has a steep, sloped roof.
Unique Towers and Windows
A cool feature of the building is its two round towers. One tower is tall, and the other is shorter. Both have pointy, cone-shaped roofs.
On one side, there's a part that sticks out with a pointed roof. This section has two arched windows made of colorful stained glass. Above them, there's another round stained glass window.
History of the Delta Psi Chapter
The Delta Psi group at Trinity College is called the Epsilon chapter. It started a long time ago, on October 17, 1850. Members of this group have been very important throughout the college's history.
Who Designed the Building?
The chapter house was built between 1877 and 1878. The architect, J. Cleaveland Cady, actually went to Trinity College himself! He graduated in 1860 and was also a member of the Delta Psi fraternity.
Building the house cost a lot of money back then. A big part of the money was given by Robert Habersham Coleman. He was a Trinity graduate from 1877 and a Delta Psi member. Other members of the fraternity also helped pay for the building and the land. Because of their help, the building was finished without any debt.
Why Is This Building Special?
When it was built, Delta Psi groups were found at many famous colleges. These included Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. In 1879, a book called Baird's Manual described Delta Psi as "the most secret of all the college societies."
A Welcoming Secret Society Building
Even though it was a secret society, Cady's design for the Trinity building was different. It had large windows and big oak front doors with special carvings. These features made the building seem more welcoming.
However, its grand design still showed that it was a private and important place. It kept the feeling of a secret organization.
First of Its Kind
The Epsilon Chapter House is very important because it was the first building in the United States built only to be a college fraternity house. It's still used today only for meetings and activities. It doesn't have bedrooms or sleeping areas, which is common for secret societies.
Inside, the building has a large entrance area. There's an eight-sided living room. The library, which used to be the dining room, is also a key part of the house. In the basement, there are fun areas like a pool table room and a reception area. Today, it is the oldest Saint Anthony Hall house that is still being used.
Updates to the Building in 2003
In 2001, an old metal fire escape on the building failed an inspection. To fix this, the alumni members of the group decided to add a new, smaller tower. This new tower would help create a safe fire exit.
Blending Old and New
They started raising money to build the new tower within a year. It was important that the new part looked good with the old building. So, they chose a design that would fit in perfectly.
The granite stones for the new tower came from the same quarry in New Hampshire as the original building's stones. They also made the basement entrance and exit better. The old small fire escape door was changed into a full-sized door. The new addition was finished and opened in 2003.
